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You don’t really think it’s spent on the students, do you? What does a top-ranking university pay its head coach? Now, add all the other coaches and the rest of the infrastructure to play “college” sports. Yeah, now you see the problem.

“Had his parents set up College fund for him when he was born and contributed to this fund each month until he was ready to start College, he would be able to go to College without needing Student Loans.”♦♦That sounds reasonable, but the reality is a little different. The average household income today is $50,000. If they made that much in 1995 (18 years ago), they would have to have saved $5,555 per year per child starting in 1995 to hit the $100,000 mark to pay for four years of college at today’s prices.Two kids would be $11,110 per year. That’s not very realistic for a family of four.

“You apparently don’t understand compounding interest or how to make good, proper, effective investments to make that money grow.”♦And you don’t seem to understand when to save and when to invest or compound interest. Compound interest doesn’t become significant until around the 23 year mark.

The goal of having a well-educated public is beneficial to the nation. That argument may be difficult to refute (unless you’re a Plutocrat)..If many (or most?) of the public do not have access to higher education or vocational training because of the cost, then a solution is necessary to further the goal in paragraph one..Many families do not have the financial wherewithal to save sufficient funds for higher education – regardless of what some people assert. So making government-backed Student Loans available has been the bi-partisan solution..Problem has been both the escalating costs of education, as well as the condition that middleman institutions broker the loans – basically, we loan money to banks, who lend out the money at an increased interest rate. They have the profit, and no liability..So why not cut out the middleman? Ok, conservatives don’t want “The Government” being in the business of competing with the banks..Fine. What’s your solution (aside from blaming the parents)?

Number one son just graduated, no debt, but scraping by, has an interview for a job coming up, perfect combination for his skills, both college PLUS those skills he learned in the Navy. Hope it comes through as it’s a perfect fit for him. And yes, we did start college funds for he and his sister when little, and they both used those funds in combination with scholarships and G.I. bill assistance. It still can be done!

“If they made that much in 1995 (18 years ago), they would have to have saved $5,555 per year per child starting in 1995 to hit the $100,000 mark to pay for four years of college at today’s prices.Two kids would be $11,110 per year. That’s not very realistic for a family of four.”

Great point. Almost any kid from a working class family is going to have to work their way through school. That doesn’t mean a part time job or a summer job. It means work full time & try to muster the time & energy to graduate. It can be done. I did it.

But, as far as I’m concerned any kid that gets “sent to college” got a head start.

This would happen ONLY if the parents had a steady, secure, high-paying job which enabled them to set aside extra money. Poorer people cannot do this as they need every penny for the most Basic needs of life… ;)

First, I know first hand the pain of financing a college student having had 4 munchkins all of which have grown been educated and are currently making their way in the world sans parental assistance.

I never made over 50K a year in base salary from my primary job. Though I did work 2 or 3 “jobs” most of my working life. With 4 kids saving anything is next to impossible. Yet we managed and the kids hold no college loan debt. All that to say that the task can be accomplished.

Unless, of course, you give up before you start.

The advice Tigger gives over and over is sound. Your position is a pessimistic defeatist attitude.

OH it HARD… I CAN’T do it….. boohoohoo

Sorry……not to hurt your feelings (I know they are tender) but what happened to the idea of personal responsibility?

So the cost of an education is so high WHY? Tell me again who is getting all that tuition money?

About Stuart Carlson

Editorial cartoonist Stuart Carlson has the unique ability to look at current events and bring them from that far away place where news is made and into the homes and daily lives of his readers. His material not only targets politicians and recognizable media figures, but it also covers topics that hold up a mirror to everyday Americans and sends them into action, wanting to take on the issues in their own lives.